Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



J. M. WAMPLER.

Breech-Loading Fire Arm.

Patented M3112- 6, 1860;

N.FETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFNEFkWASHINGTON. D. C.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. M. WAMPLER, or LOUDOUN COUNTY, v R'eINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRE ECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 27,399, dated March (1, 1860.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J. MoRRIs WAMPLER, of the count-y of Loudoun and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a correct description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part'of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the gun with a portion of the stock removed to rel and stock; D, the fulcrum of trigger-guard.

lever; E, the pin on inner end of trigger-guard lever; F, piece with slot attached firmly to under side of barrel; G, trigger-guard; H, finger-spring; I, spring-catch; J notch for catch K; L, catch-bar; M, strong piece metal made on to under side of breech; N, percussion bar or hammer; O, cock; I, rock-lever; P, one end of same; Q, pin in bar N; R, lever; S, projection in bar L to operate lever B; T, pin in bar L for spring to press; U, the screw fastening all the springs; V, trigger, W, the screws holding the back sight, Y; X, springcatch to hold down barrel; Z, claw end of sight; a, abutment for the cartridge.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe more particularly its construction and operation.

The barrel A is hinged by a strong fixed hinge, O, to the outer end of the stock B, in order that the breech end may be raised out from its bed in the stock by means of the lever or movable trigger-guard G. This guardmoves upon its pivot, fulcrum, or hinge D, the short or inner arm working by means of pin E into slot F on the under side of the barrel. WVhen the finger-spring H, in the rear end of the trigger-guard, is pressed in so as to free the catch K from notch J, and the long arm of the guard or lever is carried down from the stock, as shown in Fig.2, the short arm, in its motion backward and upward, by its end working in slot F, elevates the breech, presenting the bore for the insertion of the cartridge. \Vhen the trigger guard is moved back into its place, the breech of the barrel is returned to its bed, and is caught and held firmly down by the catch X, which is one extremity of the bar L. The catch on the other end of this bar holds the rear end of the trigger-guard up to its place against the under side of the stock. Thus bar L, with its two bolts orcatches, forms a double security against an untimely or accidental elevating of the breech.

Both catches X and K are relieved by the one act of taking hold and pulling down the rear end of the guard by simply pressing the finger backward and downward against the spring H but after the discharge, caused by the piercing of the cartridge with the needle or pointed end of the percussion-bar N, the needle-point would project a little into the bore and prevent the breech from rising were it not for the arrangement of lever B, which is pulled back by projection S on bar L at the instant the finger presses H. In thus acting upon lever B and pulling it backward it takes hold of projection or notch in percussion-bar and backs it out from the exploded cartridge until it is looked back by catch I on end of rock-lever P falling behind the head of aforesaid lever R. \Vhen locked in this notch the lock is perfectly safe, and this is the safetycatch or short half-cock. It is a safety-catch because should any accidental cause knock back the cock 0 without full-cocking it and then the cause be suddenly withdrawn, the bar N, with its needle-point, would not fly down upon the cartridge and cause an explosion or premature discharge, but would be caught by R in the safety-catch.

WVhen it is desired to-discharge the piece it must be full cooked, and the instant the dog falls into the full-cock notch the pin Q 011 bar N presses down the end P of rock-lever P.

This elevates the end I of this rock-lever and frees the head of lever B, which then no longer acts as a guard; and by pulling the trigger the bar N takes its sudden flight, its needle end pierces the cartridge, and the piece is discharged.

The deep projection M is fitted snugly into the cavity in the stock, and, bearing against B,

holds the breech firmly against the abutment a, to resist the tendency of the explosion to separate the barrel from the abutment.

I propose to construct the stock mostly of metal. I also construct my back sight, Y, so as to serve as an agent for removing the remains of the exploded cartridge, by causing it to slip forward and back on the screws IV WV. The end Z is made with an are forming two prongs, chamfered off so as to pass partly around and grip the cartridge behind the flange. Thus, by a pull back, the refuse cartridge is brought out and falls to the ground. The sight is then pushed forward into place, and end Z lodged in the notch prepared for it as a Sight.

Having thus described my invention, I wish it understood that I do not claim hooking the barrel to the stock nor attaching it by a slot ted hinge; but

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The double catch X and K, which holds down the breech, and at the same time holds up the rear end of the trigger-guard, both being relieved by one pressure of the finger in the act of pulling down the guard to raise the breech for loading.

2. The peculiar construction set forth, whereby the percussion-bar is forced back and locked to a short half-cock or safety-catch sufficiently far to clear the cap, cartridge, or breech, this being done by the same pressure of the finger that frees the double catch and the triggerguard.

3. The roclelever l, for freeing the percussion-bar from its half-cock at the instant of full-cocking.

4. The back sight, Y, constructed and operated as described, for the purpose specified. In testimony whereof I havehereunto set my hand. this 6th day of February, 1860.

J. M. XVAMPLER. \Vitnesses:

CHAS. F. STANSBURY, GRENVILLE Lnwis. 

